Key holder



5 Sheets-Sheet l lvENToR A y B [Zar/ffl?. 'EQ/mf Original Filed March25, 1929 6- da ATTOR Y C. LENFANT KEY HOLDER sp'f. 2o, 1932.

original Filed Maron 25, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 20, 1932. i

Original Filed March 23. 1929 C. LENFANT KEY HOLDER IM IHIWHHHH IHIHIL 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED. STATESPATENT OFFICE CHARLES LENFANT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KEY lHOLDER.

Application led March 23, 1929, Serial No. 849,343. Renewed August 18,1930.

This invention relates to key holders, and has for its general objectand purpose to provide a device of exceedingly simple and inexpensiveconstruction especially des1gned for the purpose of holding a pluralityof keys of generally similar form, such as Yale lock keys and which willenable the easy and quick selection of the proper key Withoutnecessitating the opening of the case orholder eX- posing all of thekeys.

It is another important object of my invention to provide a case orholder-for keys which may be manufactured on a quantity production basisand at such low cost, that ".5 itV can be distributed gratis by banksand other financial institutions to safety deposit vault renters.

It is a more particular object of my invention to provide a key casewhich is produced from a single stamped blank of leather or otherflexible material, said blank being folded and the parts thereofstitched together at spaced points so as to provide a plurality ofindividual key receiving pockets, said pockets at one of their endshaving means restricting the effective width of the pocket andpermitting the shank of the key to be projected beyond said end of thepocket while the enlarged head of the vkey is retained therein.

It is another-important feature of the invention to provide the simpleand effective means which will permit of the easy insertion of the keysinto the individual pockets of the case and after such insertion closethe pockets against possibility of the accidental loss of the keytherefrom.

In another practical embodiment of the invention, I provide the leatherkey case with two series of key receiving pockets on opposite sides ofits center so that the case may be centrally folded upon itself, theends thereof being provided with suitable fastening devices. In thisform 'of the device, it is unnecessary to detach the fastening means, as

any desired key may be readily selected and projected in position foruse, while the case sections remain in folded relation.

It is also an advantageous feature of each 5o form of my invention thatthe leather case 7-7 of Fig. 6;

for the keys is very fiat, and of convenient size to be easily carriedin the vest pocket or a purse, and in which the keys are held inseparated relation preventing rattling Inetallic Contact of the keyswith each other. Since the keys are not hunched together as in holderspreviously provided for this purpose, bulk is materially reduced, andwhen carried in the pocket, pressure against the case will not benoticeably felt.

With the above and other objects in view,l the invention consists in theimproved key holder or case in the form, lconstruction and relativearrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, il# lustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequentlyincorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated several simple and practicalembodiments of my invention, and in which similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing a preferredembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view'of the blank fromI which the case is formed;

Fig. 4 is a. side elevation of a foldable case showing the same open;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the two sections of the case folded oneach other and fastened together;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing a modified form of the invention;

` Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line Fig. 8 is a plan view ofthe blank from 9o which the case illustrated in Fig. 6 is produced;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing another alternative construction;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the blank fromv which the case of Fig. 9 isproduced;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation illustrating a 100 slightly diiferent formof the pocket closing means of the case shown in Fig. 9;

13 is a s'ide elevation showing a further alternative embodiment of theinven- 5. tion;

Fig. 14 is an edge view thereof;

Fig. 15is a sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a lan view of the blank from which one of t ecase sections ofFig. 13 is formed;

Fig. 17 is a side elevation showing another modified form of the device;and

Fi 18 is a plan view of the blank from whic the latter form of the caseis produced.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and

for the present more particularly to Figs. 1,

2 and 3 thereof, the key holder or case as therein shown is producedfrom a single sheet 20 of leather or other iexible material. The

leather is cut or stamped out to provide the blank generally indicatedat 5 in Fig. 3.

This bank at one of its ends has a plurality o spaced tabs or flaps 6and in spaced relation to each of these aps, an elongated opening orslot 7 is formed through the material, said slots being aligned witheach other and ex` tending at right angles to the lengthwise dimensionof the blank.

The stamped or cut leather blank above described is now folded along theline indicated at 8 between the opposite side edges of the slots 7. Theother end portion of the blank is then folded inwardly and downwardlyalong the line indicated at 9 so that the end edge 10 of the blank ispositioned along a line substantially coinciding with the line ofjuncture of the tabs 6 with the body of the blank. Thus as shown in Fig.1 of the drawings, this end portion of the blank overlies and entirelyconceals the tabs 6.

The'folded blank is now run through a '45 blank between the fold lines 8and 9 along the spaced parallel lines 11, said lines of stitchingextending along opposite side edges of the folded material and betweenthe spaced slots or openings 7 and the tabs 6 and terminating 0 at oneof their ends adjacent the fold 9. Tt will therefore, be understood thatthe folded end portion of the blank is permanently secured to theopposed intermediate section of the blank and in the plane of theopposite end 5 portion thereof which is provided with the tabs 6.Accordingly, the case or holder will be seen to consist only of twothicknesses of material. The spaced lines of stitching 11 thus provideindividual pockets indicated at l2 in which the keys are adapted to beinserted in a manner to be presently explained, there being provided atone end of each pocket a slot 7 which is of less length than the widthof the pocket. Preferably, in order to @5 prevent the end of the keyshank from entering the corner of the pocket beyond one end of the slot7, I also stitch the opposite side walls of the pockets together alongthe diagonal lines mdlcated at 13 from each end of the slot 7 to theadjacent line of stitching 11. Thus the end of the pocket leading to theslot 7 is of restricted width.

In inserting the keys into the respective pockets 12, the closure flap 6of the ocket is' pulled out from beneath the end e ge 10 of the case asindicated in dotted lines in Fi 3 of the drawings. Thus, the shank ofthe key indlcated at K may be readily inserted downwardly mto the upperend of the pocket between the iap 6 and the end edge 10 of the casewall. The shank of the key is projected a short distance through theopening 6 until the enlarged head of said key is disposed below the endedge 10 of the case wall. The ila 6 is then returned to its formerposition un erlying said edge portion 10 of the wall -of the case, andthe key is then pushed inwardly through slot 7 until it is whollyenclosed within the pocket as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. The key is thereby closely confined between the side walls ofthe pocket and in parallel relation therewith against any possibility ofworking outwardly beneath the edge 10 of the case wall.

The individual pockets containing the keys 'for different locks aresuitably dierentiated from each other, as by printing, stamping orotherwise delineating upon the surface of the leather at the closed endof each pocket, numbers, letters or words so that the proper key whichit is desired to use may be readily selected. In order to position thekey relative to the case so that the shank of the key may be inserted inthe lock cylinder, pressure is applied by the linger against theenlarged end ot the key at the fold line, and since the leather or otherflexible material of the case Walls is readily yieldable, the key may bemoved longitudinally in the pocket and the extremity of its shankprojected through the opening 7.

This projecting part of the key shank is then grasped between the thumband finger and the key is pulled longitudinally in the pocket so thatthe shank thereof is in a fully extended position in projecting relationto the slotted end wall of the pocket as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. By then grasping the op osite sidewalls of the case at eachside of the ey head, the projecting key shank can be easily inserted' inthe slot of the lock cylinder and turned to retract the bolt and openthe door. After the key is withdrawn from the lock, it is only necessaryto push the key inwardly until it is again entirely contained andenclosed within the case pocket.

In the embodiment of the device shown in Fig. 1, T have shown the casewith three of the key receiving pockets, but it is of course, apparentthat any number of such pockets may be provided. The individual keys areat all times held in the case in separated spaced relation and out ofContact with each other. Thus, the key case may be easily ried in thepocket, and since the total thickness thereof exceedsthe thickness ofthe key only by the thickness of the opposite side walls of the case,the case will remain perfectly flat. Since the individual keys cannotcome into direct overlying contact with each other, bulk is materiallyreduced and discomfort caused by pressure against the keys carried inthe pocket is obviated.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, I have shown a case of the samegeneral construction vas that illustrated in Fig. 1 but consisting oftwo sections generally designated A and B respectively, each having aseries of key receiving pockets. The two case sections are formed from asingle blank sheet of material, and said sections between the two seriesof pockets are foldable upon each other along the line indicated at 14.

The opposite ends of the case sections are provided with suitablefastener elements as shown at 15 and 16 respectively, on the inner facesthereof which are adapted to be engaged when the case sections arefolded together so as to secure and retain the same in folded position.Thus a case of greater capacity is provided, but which is ofcomparatively short length and also relatively flat. Any selected keymay be easily projected from the case pocket in the manner aboveexplained, without unfolding the two sections of the case.

It will be apparent, in view of the fact that the key case in eitherofthe forms above described, may be inexpensively produced from a singleblank sheet of leather, that the case can be manufactured on a quantityproduction basis at very low cost. The device may therefore, beadvantageously utilized by banks and other financial institutions as aninducement to prospective patrons, one of the cases being given to eachrenter of a safety deposit vault. As indicated in Fig. 5 of thedrawings, the outer surface of the leather case may bear the name of thebank and any other suitable advertising matter printed thereon.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, I have shown a slightly modified form of thedevice, in which the closure tabs or flaps 6 are eliminated. In thisconstruction, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the slots 7 arelocated relatively close to one end edge of the blank so that this endedge portion, when folded along the line ,of said slots forms acomparatively short section 17 of one side wall of the case. Theremaining section 18 of this side wall of the case is relatively wide,and the said wall sections are disposed in the same plane with theiredges normally in close abutting` relation as indicated at 19. Thedistance between this line of contact between the edges of the wallsections 17 and 18 and the slotted end of the keyI pocket is less thanthe diameter of the circu arly enlarged end of the average Yale key. Ininserting the key, the shank thereof is engaged beneath the upper edgeof theuwall section 17 of the case and the key then moved downwardlyagainst the face of the wall section 18 until the shank of the key isfully projected through the slot 7. By then flexing the case walls, thelower edge portion of the wall section 17 may be engaged over the faceof the circular end of thekey. The key is then moved inwardly until itis entirely enclosed within the pocket. f In .this construction, thecase is otherwise the same as that previously described and theindividual keys are extended from the pockets and positioned for use inthe same manner, as. shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. As the head of thekey, when in position for use, projects above the abutting edges 19 ofthe wall sections 17 and 1 8, it cannot work outwardly over the outerface of the wall section 18 when the key is again returned to itsenclosed position within the pocket.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings, I show another form of the devicein which the side wall section 17 of the case forms the major portion ofsaid side wall, the other section 18 thereof being relatively short. The

llines of stitching 11 whereby the pockets are` formed extend throughoutthe length of the wall section 17. The other section 18 is also securedby the stitching lines 11EL to the opposite side wall of the case, saidstitching lines substantially joining the lines 11. However, the section18 of the case wall also includes a free or unsecured flap 6 which is ofslightly less width than the width of the wall section 18. This iiapextends over and closes the upper ends of the individual key receivingpockets. A

In Fig. 12 of the drawings, I show a slightly different form, in whichinstead of providing the single flap 6 common to all of the pockets, theindividual closure flaps 6* are provided for therespective pockets, andthe single continuous lines of stitching forming the everal pocketsextends between thse spaced aps. I

In Figs 13, 14 and 15, I have shown another alternative embodiment ofthe invention, in which the case consists of two separate units, eachform-ed from a blank as shown in Fig. 16 and which is folded along theline 20 to provide opposite side walls of equal length. One end of theblank has a closureflap 21 and tbe slots or openings 7 a are formedthrough the blank substantially on the line of juncture of the Hap 21with one side wall section. After the blank is folded along the line 20,the two side walls are stitched together to form the individual keyreceiving pockets as above explained. These pockets are entirely open atone of their ends, and are closed by folding the flap 21 over said openends of the pockets 1 'ois and upon the inner side wall of the casesection or unit. The slots 7 thus provide restricted outlets forl theseveral pockets, portions of each pocket being closed at opposite endsof the openings 7a by the flap 2l. Two such case sections or units aresuperimposed upon each other and stitched together along their oppositeside edges as indicated at 22. The flaps 21 of the respective casesections are folded inwardly and when in closed position are incontacting relation with each other. The keys are thereby securely heldagainst accidental release from the case pockets.

In Figs. 17 and 18 of the drawings, an-

other possible construction of the device is illustrated, in which theblank is in the form of a single rectangular sheet of leather havingfastener elements 15 and 16. respectively, secured thereto adjacent itsopposite end edges. After centrally folding the blank upon itself, theopposed sections thereof are stitched together along parallel lines toform the key receiving pockets. The fastener elements 15 and 16 whichare engaged with each other are so located at theopen ends of thepockets as to constrict said open ends or reduce the width thereof sothat the circular head of the key cannot be withdrawn, the distancebetween these fastener elements and the lines of stitching 11 mostremote therefrom being less than the 'diameter of the key head. In thisarrangement, of course when the keys are rinserted in the pockets of thecase, the fastener elements 15 and 16 are disengaged from each other soas to fully open the end of the case pocket.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is believed that the construction and severaladvantages of the illustrated embodiments of the device will be clearlyunderstood. While I have shown and described a number of desirable formsof my improved key holder or case, it is possible that other alternativestructures might also be devised incorporating the essential features ofthe present disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood that l reservethe privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes in the form,construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as may befairly incorporated within the spirit and scope of the invention asclaimed.

` I claim:

1. A case for holding a plurality of rigid articles in segregatedrelation to each other consisting of side walls of flexible materialsecured together along spaced parallel lines to provide a. series ofseparate pockets, each adapted to receive a single article, said casehaving a part completely closing said pockets at one of their ends, andsaid part freely flexing under externally-applied pressure to transmitmovement to the articles in the respective pockets and project the samebeyond the other ends of the pockets, and means partially closing thepockets at their latter ends to prevent the complete removal of thearticles therefrom.

2. A case for holding a plurality of rigid articles in segregatedrelation to each other consisting of a single sheet of flexible materialfolded upon itself and having its superimposed parts secured togetheralong spaced parallel lines to provide a series of separate pockets eachadapted to receive a single article, said pockets being completelyclosed at one of their ends by the fold in the flexible material, saidfold freely exing under externally applied pressure to transmit movementto the articles longitudinally in the respective pockets and project thesame beyond the other ends of the pockets, and means partially closingthe pockets at their latter ends to prevent the complete removal of thearticles therefrom.

8. A case for holding a plurality of rigid articles in segregatedrelation to each other consisting of a single sheet of exible materialfolded upon itself with the ends of said sheet in meeting relation onone side of the case, the superimposed parts of said flexible sheetbeing secured together by spaced parallel lines of stitching extendingacross said meeting ends of the sheet and providing a series of separatepockets each adapted to receive a single article insertable into saidpockets between the meeting ends of the flexible sheet, said pocketsbeing completely closed atoneI of their ends by a fold in the flexiblematerial which is freely flexible un- `der externally applied pressureto move the articles longitudinally in the respective pockets andproject -the same beyond the other ends of the pockets. and meanspartially closing the pockets at their latter ends to prevent thecomplete removal of thearticles therefrom.

4. A case for holding a plurality of rigid articles in segregatedrelation to each other consisting o-f a single sheet of flexiblematerial folded upon itself in spaced relation to each of its ends, saidend portions of the fiexible sheet being secured to the intermediateportion thereof by spaced parallel lines of stitching tofprovide aplurality of separate pockets each adapted to receive a single article,the ends of said flexible sheet on one side of the case being relativelyfree and in contiguous relation to each other and between which thearticles are adapted to be inserted into the respective pockets, saidflexible material at one end of each pocket having a slot therein ofless width than the pocket, and the other end of each pocket beingcompletely closed by one of the folds in the sheet material, the pocketwalls at the latter ends thereof being yieldable under externallyapplied pressure whereby the articles may be longitudinally moved withinthe respective pockets and projected through said slots to a positionfor use.

5. A key case consisting of a single sheet of flexible material' foldedupon itself in spaced relation to its opposite ends, the superimposedparts of said sheet being secured to eachother by spaced parallel linesof stitching to form a series of separate pockets each adapted toreceive a key insertable into the pocket between the ends of saidflexible sheet on one side of the case, one end of said sheet beingrovided with closure means for the respectlve pockets to prevent theaccidental ldisplacement ofthe keys therefrom, said material at one endof each pocket having a slot therein of-*less width than the pocket,said pockets being completely closed at their other ends by one of thefolds in said material yieldable under externally applied pressurewhereby the key may be moved longitudinally in the respective pocketsand pro-` jected through vthe slot'at the opposite end thereof to aposition for use. i

6. A key case consisting of a single sheet of iiexible material foldedupon itself in spaced relation to its opposite ends, the superimposedparts of said sheetbeing secured to each other by spaced parallel lines.of stitching to form a series of separate pockets each adapted toreceive a key insertable into the pocket between the ends of saidflexible sheet on one side of the case, one end of said sheet beingprovided with. closure means for the respective pockets to prevent theaccidental displacement ofthe keys therefrom, said material at one endofleach pocket having a .slot therein of less width than the pocket,said pockets being completely closed at their other endsby one of thefolds-in said material yieldable under externally applied pressurewhereby*l the key may be moved longitudinally in the respective pocketsand pro]ected through the slot in the opposite end thereof to apositionfor use, and diagonal lines of stitching connecting the pocket wallsbetween the opposite ends of said slots and the parallel lines ofstitchingto restrict .the width of the'pocket at its slotted'end andthereby prevent the entire withdrawal ofthe ke from the pocket.

i. A key case having walls of flexible material stitched together alongparallel lines to provide a lurality of separate ockets'to receive thein'vidual keys, said poc ets being permanently closed at one of their endsand one'side wall of each key receivingpocket having unconnectedrelatively flexing opposed (portions between which the key is adapteto'be inserted into the pocket, and the wall ,of each key pocket beingfurther rovided in spaced relation to said relativel exing portions witha slot through whic I the key shank may be withdrawn.

8. A key case for holdlng a plurality of keys in segregated relation,comprising side walls connected with each other alon spaced parallellines to provide a pilurality o pockets to receive the individual eys,one side wall of each pocket intermediate of its ends having opposedrelatively movable parts be- -tween which the key is insertable into thepocket, one end of each pocket beingv permanently closed, and the otherend 'of each pocket having a relatively narrow slot through which theshank of the key may be withdrawn to an exposed position for insertionin the key slot of a lock cylinder.

9. A key'rcase of flexible material having a plurality of elongatedpockets respectively receiving and confining the individual keys againstcontacting engagement with each other, each pocket having an openingextending across substantially the entire width thereof for theinsertion of the key and also provided in longitudinally spaced parallelrelation to said opening with a relatively narrow slot permitting thekey shank to be withdrawn from said pocket while retaining the key headtherein.

Y 10. A case having a body wall of liexible material provided upon onesidev thereof with a plurality of key-holding pockets, an end portion ofsaid body wall being inwardly folded and stitched tosaid wall alongspaced parallel lines to form parts of the key-holdlng pockets,vandteach of the pockets having a side wall provided with an openinginto which the key head maybe inserted or withdrawn, and each pocketalso having a relatively narrow slit in its wall spaced from saidopening for a distance exceeding the diameter of the key head and throuh which the shank portion'iof the key may epwithdrawn, and guard meansfor the opening of each pocket preventing the accidental movement of thekey head outwardly therethrough.

vIn testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name hereto.

lCHARLES LENliANT.

